Automatic slide projector



July 19, 1949. F.. P. BENNETT ET AL 2,476,797

AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1946 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.$. fim/vm F flaws/Err, GEORGE" :7 #0565506 July19, 1949. F. P. BENNETT ET AL Q 2,476,797

AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR5 July 19, 1949- F. P. BENNETT ET AL AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet .3

INVENTORS.

July 19, 1949. F. P. BENNET'i' ET AL 2,476,797

AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 2]., 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY GEORGE 5 M11557 July 19, 1949. 'F. P. BENNETT ET AL 2,476,797

AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Filed Feb. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Phi. ll]

Patented July 19, 1949 AUTOMATIC SLIDE PROJECTOR Frank P. Bennett, Wilmette, and George E. Musebeck, Evanston, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Picture Recording Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation Application February 21, 1946, Serial No. 649,135

9 Claims. (01. 88-28) This invention relates to a picture projector, particularly one which is self-contained, portable and of light weight, although it is adaptable for permanent installation and other purposes.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the mechanism for automatically manipulating picture slides successively, transferring them from a magazine to projecting position and from projecting position to a second magazine, and whereby they are reversed during their transfer to the second magazine. By thus reversing them, the pictures are set up in the second magazine in such relative position that said second magazine may'then be substituted for and take the place of the first magazine. Through this means the second or discharge magazine is reloaded with the projected slides ready for again passing through the projector, said magazines being interchangeable, whereby the magazine containing the projected slides may be conveniently placed in position for said slides to be again projected in their same order and arrangement as in the preceding projecting operation.

One feature of the invention resides in the follower devices mounted for maintaining the slides in a compact group as they are transferred from onemagazine through the projecting apparatus to the other magazines. This is accomplished through a pair of biased follower plates slidably carried in each magazine.

Another feature of the invention resides in the slide reversing cage acting to receive and reverse a projected slide before replacing it in the magazme.

A further feature of the invention resides in the clutch control mechanism arranged to be manually operable exteriorly of the cabinet to change and initiate a slide changing cycle, said clutch being automatically operable to release at the completion of each slide changing cycle.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the picture projector with the top of the cabinet removed.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the picture projector showing the top of the cabinet elevated topresent a viewing screen.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the magazines and slide shifting mechanism with the clutch controlled drive therefor, parts being removed or shown in section.

Fig.4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the magazine arranged for slide delivery to the projector.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the reloading end of said magazine. v

Fig. 8 is an elevational view or a slide follower plate. Y 5

Fig. 9 is a central vertical section through the slide reversing cage.

Fig. 10 is a view of the slide reversing cage taken on the line l0l 0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged schematic sectional'view of the slide transfer mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram illustrative electric control therefor.

In the drawings there is shown a projector supported within a cabinet [0 provided with a hinged top l l which may be raised to support the hinged viewing screen l2 forwardly and above the cabinet to receive projected pictures reflected from the reflector l3 hinged rearwardly within the cabinet on the bottom thereof.

Housed within the cabinet there is an optical system carried by a framework including the end plates [4, l5 and cross rods I6. Adjusted on said cross rods there is a series of lenses l1 arranged rearwardly in horizontally spaced relation to the projector lamp l8. Said projector lamp is mounted upon a carriage l9 slidable upon the supporting bars 20 extending between the plates l4, l5 and adjustably slidable thereon by a screw 2! operable by a knurled head 22 exposed in a suitable recess provided in the forward end of the cabinet. Said carriage supports a bracket 23 carrying a reflector 24 for'reflecting light rays through the series of lenses I'I.

Rearwardly of the supporting plate l5 and mounted thereon, there is a hood 25 terminating in a reduced cylindrical housing 26 in which the lens barrel 21 is longitudinally adjustable, said barrel 21 carrying a reduced lens barrel 28. 'R0- tatably mounted in said housing there is a rubber friction wheel 29 carried on a shaft 30 in frictional engagement with the lens barrel 21. Said shaft 36 extends laterally to the side of the cabinet with its outer end extending through an inwardly recessed portion 3! and rotatable .by an exposed knob 32 forfocusing the'lenses mounted in the barrels 21, 28. g

The picture slides to be projected are supported in face to face column formation in the magazines 33. As shown in Fig. 1, theuppermost magazine 33 is mounted in the cabinet. for feeding the slides contained therein ,to the projector, and the lower magazine 33 of said figureis positioned to receive and be reloaded with the slides after their projecof the tion. As best illustrated in Figs. -7, the magazines 33 are elongated to receive a stacked column of slides, and in cross section conform to the size and shape thereof, herein shown as square. The magazines are each provided with an elongated slot 35, the side thereof embodying said slot being uppermost the magazineis in reloading position (Fig. l) and bottommost when in ejecting position (Figs. 5, 6 and 7).

The ejecting end, or the end of the magazine from which the pictures are removed for projection, is indicated at 36, whereas the reloading end of the magazine comprises plate 3'1. The end is recessed at 38 to receive ejeoting pusher 39 slidable relative thereto for pushing the end slide 34 therefrom, as hereinafter described, said slides being retained against end displacement by the inwardly turned flanges 40. The reloading end of each of said magazines, including their respective end plates 31, are provided with openhgs 4! o su h ize and shap a to receive the biased follower platg 42 shown in Big. 8, as well as the follower plate 435; p tively. Adjacent the the end plate 31 the magazine is slotted on one S ll? at 43 through w ll??? Qt projected slides may be inserted for reloading, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. inwardly and adjacent the end plate 31 there is provided camrning strips M for ainin t e loa ed id s in spaced relation to the receiving slot to provide a free opening o he intern n s es- To retain the s dos in their properly packed column formation while the magazines are being unloaded for projection or being loaded after proiect h, th .iollewer p a es ,2. 2a are arra ed to bea asaih te outermost lid n r sprin n n. For-thisa when h ma azine 3 s z q ht s $9. li. he s d s o t e projector Figs- 5 and .th f .ower p a e 42a i carried by a rod slidably rno ted in a bearing sleeve '16. Said hearing eeve p ovided with a head h vin a. bayonet slot engagement with the screws 31 so that said sleeve gnay be quickly and conveniently attached the end plate 31' with its follower pl te 4. whee the mesa-zin is m unted for slid el v y The red 45 isrelea b e a d by a l e ally tendin p essu arm 8 ou ted upo a carrier rod 9 snpported between a series of rollers car 6.9 2 5 2 bracket 5| secured within 1 ca n t, The pressime arm is biased inwardly by a tensionspring v5;? to yieldingly exert pressure upon the follower platefsllflh was to continuously move the column of slides forwardly as the forem s s ide item the ma a in Similarly, whenthe magazine is positioned for reloading, the follower plate 2 mounted upon a carrier rod ,53 is snpported for longitudinal movement by the rollers 54, saidrollers being rotatably mounted in a bracket 5,5.carr-ied by the cabinet. A

tension spring is secured at one end to the cabinet and at the other end is hooked to a bracket 51 carried by the follower plate. Thus, during reloading theslides are retained in their column formation while making room for each additionalslide insertedat the rear of the column.

The magazines are interchangeable in their mounting within the cabinet. As one of the magazines is emptied of its slide during the projection thereof, a companion magazine is loaded therein. Ihe newly loaded magazine is removable by swinging the follower plate 42 from the free exposed end of the magazine upwardly about its rod -53. Such reloaded magazine may then be p a d nst reee erm'er he P a ed o o for delivering slides for projection. When the magazine is placed in slide projecting position, the follower plate 42a is inserted through the opening 4] in end plate 37, and its supporting bearing sleeve 45 has its head secured in position by the bayonet slot connection with screws il. Thereupon the pressure arm 48 may be swung into position about its rod 49 for engagement with the rod 45 of said follower plate.

As shown in Fig. 4, the magazine 33 to be loaded is mounted on the floor of the cabinet to seat between a. locking bar 58 and a clamping spring 59 to butt up against a stop 60. When placed in position for removal of the slides therefrom for projection, said magazine is slid into position and supported by the framework indicated at 6! In its projecting position, the end 36 of the magazine lies in the path of the ejecting pusher 39. Said pusher is provided with a shoulder 62 defining a recess into which the end slide seats nde s re o he s r n .2 whe the p s is in its normal retracted position. The forward end of th p her ndica ed a 6. the in 9 tion to engage the slide which is projecting position, in alignment with the optical system. As the pusher is reciprooated to the left, Figs. 10 an 1, wo slice a e imu t pushed thereby. slide then in projecting positio i shed b the n 6, o t P sh out of said position into the reversing page shown i gs. 9 and 1 A in? sam 1 1 th 9 ld l 2 pu the innermos sl de of the m azin therefrom, in line with the optical system. As it is thus removed in line with the optical system, the springs 64, engaging the upper and lower edges of e l e. a en i ehdih ld i a a n a ep ed pl t 6. At the Seine tim t i r n d by a d w ard y exten shrine d l h a nst backwar mo emen b a p i p s d l ch 67 as th Pus e e u ns to s ini al p t Thus. the moles ed sli e h been discharged and replaced by a new shrie from the a i e es th ushe m ve to h ft a back again to normal position, compr sing one cycle of operation.

Upon the projected slide being moved out of registry with the optical system, as above described, it drops down into the reyersing cage, best illustrated in Figs, 9 and 10. Saidoage is in e fo m o a t ou h havin an outw dl flar rear wall 68 and upwardly curved end walls .59. The slide slips laterally between a forwardly pressed spring 50 and a rearwardly pressed spring H, the latter spring being mounted on a forwardly bulging housing plate 72. As soon as the slide is released in thecage, its bottom is forced forwardly by spring L9 and its tQp is forced backwardly by spring -11, causing it to trip over a ppin s o ld r and tumble into the trou h guided by the rear wall ,68 in the manner indicated by dotted lines in ;9. Having reversed itself, or turned over the ,cage, it slides to the bottom thereofto seat in yertica-l position within a recess 14 under tension of a spring 75. In this reverse position, the slide is .then'in alignment with the slot of the magazine .to be loaded and is slid along the back endof the column of previously loaded slides against .the camm-ing strips fi l. In this action it: forces the other slides outwardly to makeroom against the follower plate 42 and tension of spring 56. For this-purpose there is provided a pusher 76 operating with the pusher 39. Thus, as the pusher 3-9 and pusher 18 are moved to the left, a new slide is moved into position, a projected slide is dropped into the reversing cage and the slide previously dropped therein is loaded in its reverse position at the rear of the column of slides in the reloading magazine.

As shown in Fig. 4, the pusher 39 is slidably supported between the guide plates 11 and 18. The pusher 18 is mounted on a bar 19. Rigidly secured to the bar 19 there is a cross bar 88 pivotally connected at 8| to the pusher 39. Said pushers 39 and 18 are, therefore, reciprocated by said bar through a link 82 pivotally connected thereto at 83. The link 82 is pivotally connected at 84 to a crank arm 85 keyed to a shaft 86 driven by a motor 81 through a releasable clutch. The crank arm 85 is normally in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, with a slide in picture projecting position. Said crank arm makes one revolution per cycle of movement, coming to rest at the end of said cycle during which it has caused the pushers 39, 18 to move to the left and back again. During this movement they have replaced the slide being viewed and returned the reversed projected slide to the magazine being loaded. To arrest movement of the crank arm at the end of each cycle there is provided a clutch consisting of a disk 88 keyed to the motor shaft, which disk is freely rotatable in alignment with a flanged driving collar 89 which slidably carries a clutch pin 98. Said pin is movable forwardly into the path of rotation of a series of lugs 9| but biased out of said path by a spring 92. v

The opposite end of the clutch pin normally engages and locks in the recess provided in the face of a stationary plate 93 carried by a bracket 94. The collar 89 is keyed to a stub shaft to which the crank arm 85 is keyed and having its bearing in the bracket 94. With the clutch pin seated in said recess under tension of its spring 92, it is out of the path of the lugs 9| so that the motor freely rotates without driving the crank arm 85. But when the pin is pressed inwardly momentarily to be engaged by a lug 9| and freed from its recess it will be held in lug-engaging position by the plate 93 until it is caused to make one revolution thereabout and again seat itself in its recess and be free of the lugs 9|. Thus, said clutch may be tripped to drive the crank arm and the pushers through one cycle, whereupon they will come to rest.

The clutch pin 98 is operated through a magnetically actuated clutch rod 95 slidably mounted in the bottom of the housing and provided with a forwardly upstanding portion with an inturned end 95a extending in alignment with the clutch pin 98 to abut that end of said pin seated in the recess of the plate 93. When the clutch rod 95 is drawn rearwardly, it forces the clutch pin 98 out of said recess and into the path of movement of the lugs 9|. In the meantime, the clutch rod 95 returns to its normal position, having initiated the cycle of movement of the clutch. For thus actuating the clutch rod, there is provided an electromagnet 98, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having an armature 91 fulcrumed at 98 and bent downwardly for engagement by the rod 95 at 99. Thus, when the magnet 96 is energized, its armature swings about its fulcrum to actuate the clutch rod 95 and initiate clutch engagement against the tension of a spring I88.

The driving link 82 carries a pin acting to close the contact member of switch I8| so that when the pushers are in their normal outward position,

saidswitch- IN is closed, but upon operation thereof it is opened. As shown in Fig. 14, the said switch |8| maintains a circuit from the source S which is closed by a manually operated switch I82 to energize the magnet 96. vThus, through the conveniently located manual switch M2 the pushers may be operated to change a slide upon the closing thereof. The projected slide will then remain in position to be viewed on the screen until switch I82 is again closed. But switch I82 will not function to close the circuit except when the pushers are in normal position to close switch |8|. Switch |8| also tie-energizes the magnet as soon as the clutch operation becomes effective, irrespective of how long thereafter the manual switch is held closed. In circuit with said source of current there is also provided a switch |83 for closing the circuit to the lamp i8, and a switch I84 for closing the circuit from said source to the motor 81. For cooling the cabinet, the usual blower fan I is mounted to set up a current of air past the lamp, said fan ciprocating pusher operable to simultaneously transfer a projected slide from the optical system to drop into said reversing cage and from the ejecting end of one of said magazines into projecting position in said optical system, and a pusher operable with said first-mentioned pusher to simultaneously therewith transfer a reversed slide from said reversing cage to the loading end of the other of said magazines.

2. A picture projector including an optical system for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a pusher on one side of said system hav-' ing its end engageable with one end of a projected slide for discharging it from said system and having a recess for receiving a replacement slide therefor with its edge engaged by a shoulder formed by therecess, a reversing cage at the opposite side of said optical system from said pusher for receiving the projected slide, means for actuating said pusher to simultaneously push the projected slide fromsaid system into said cage and transfer an adjacent slide to said optical system for projection thereby, means in said reversing cage for causing the slide received therein to tumble downwardly into reversed position, and means for actuating said pusher for effecting the transfer of said slides and return it to initial position.

3. A picture projector including an optical system for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a pusher on one side of said system having its end engageable with one end of a projected slide for discharging it from said system and having a recess for receiving a replacement slide therefor with its edge engaged by a shoulder formed by the recess, a reversing cage at the opposite side of said optical system from said pusher for receiving the projected slide, means for actuating said pusher to simultaneously push the projected slide from said system into said cage and transfer an adjacent slide to said optical system for projection thereby, means in said reversing cage for causing the slide received therein to tumble downwardly into reversed position, a second pusher connected with said firstmentioned pusher to simultaneously eject a reversed slide from said'cage with the transfer of the projected slide thereto, and means for actuating said pushers to transfer and elect said slides and return them to initial position.

4. A picture projector including an optical system for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a magazine having a reloading end, a reversing cage interposed between the reloading end of said magazine and said optical system, and a slide transfer mechanism operable to si-' multaneously discharge a projected slide from sai'd'system into said reversing cage and eject a slide from said reversing cage to the reloading end of said magazine in its reversed position.

5. A picture projector including an optical si lstem for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a trough-like reversing cage mounted adjacent to and below said optical system having an an ularly disposed wall, a tripping shoulder in said cage, a projection extending into said cage above said tripping shoulder, and means for transferring a slide from said optical system on edge with its lower edge forwardly of said shoulder and its upper edge rearwardly of said projection for tilting said slide and causing it to tumble over said shoulder with its upper edge fore most to be guided in reversed position by said angularly disposed wall to the lower portionthereof.

6. A picture projector including an optical-systern for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a trough-like reversing cage mounted adjacent to and below said opticalsystem having an angularly disposed Wall, a tripping shoulder insaid cage, a projection extending into said cage above said tripping shoulder, means for transferring a slide from said optical system on edge with its lower edge forwardly of said shoulder and its upper edge rearwardly of said'projection for tilt ing said slide and causing it to tumble over said shoulder with its upper edge foremost to be guid ed in reversed position by said ang-ularlydisposed wallito the lower portion thereof, and a yielding element in the lower portion of said cage for engaging andsetting the reversed slide in-vertical position 7 Avpicture projector including an optical systemic-r receiving apicture slide to be projected, a trough-like reversing cage mounted adjacent to and below said optical system'having an angularly disposedwall, a-tripping shoulder in said cage, a projection extending into said cage above said tripping shouider means for transferring slide from said optical system on edge with its lower edge forwardly of said shoulder and its upper edgerearwardly'of said projection for tilting said slide and causing itto-tumble over said shoulder with its upper edge foremost to be guided in reversed position by said'anguldrly dis posed wail tothe lowerportion thereof, a yielding element in' the lower portionof said cage. for engaging and setting the reverse slide in vertical position, a magazine havinga reloading: end for said; slides, and'a pusher operable in-thelower portionof said cage to push said slide in its reversed vertical position into the reloading end of said magazine.

8. A picture projector including an optical system for receiving a picture slide to be projected, a support on each side of said optical system for retaining a plurality of picture slides in vertical face to face column formation, the slide support on one side of said optical system having a slide ejecting end and the slide support on the opposite side of said system having a slide reloading end, a slide reversing cage including a deflector element for' receiving a projected slide from said optical system and overturning it to reverse its position, and a slide transfer mechanism operable to simultaneously transfer theprojected Slide from saidoptical system to said reversin cage and from said ejecting end to said optical system; I

9". A picture projector including an optical systern for receiving a picture slide to be projected, asupport on each side of said optical system for retaining a plurality of picture slides in vertical face to face column formation, the slide support on one side of said optical system having a slide ejecting end and the slide support on the opposite side of said system having a slide reloading end, a slide" reversing cage including a deflector element for receiving a projected slide from said optical system and overturning it to reverse its position; a slide transfer mechanism ope'rable'to simultaneously transfer the'projected slide from said optical system to said reversing cage and from said ejecting end to said optical system, and a-men ber operable with said slide transfer mechanism to; simultaneously therewith transfer the overturned Slide from said reversing cage to saidrelo'adi'ng end I FRANK P. 7

GEORGE'E; MUSEBEGK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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